S-Oil chief executive Ahmed A. Subaey received a top industrial award at the annual Trade Day ceremony Monday for the company’s steady exports of petrochemicals and large-scale investments.

At the 48th Trade Day ceremony, the Korean government awarded 785 people for general merit in helping improve Korea’s trade balances, and another 31 for special merit in helping the country reach $1 trillion in annual trade.

In the general merit section, Subaey became the second foreigner ever to be granted the Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit.

Subaey took helm of S-Oil in March 2008 after working for 27 years at Saudi Aramco. S-Oil exports more than 60 percent of its production to over 30 countries, with this year’s exports estimated at $18 billion.

By Kim So-hyun (sophie@heraldcorp.com)